Garage door and a remote control therefor



Dec. 5, 1950 J c, KAYTQR 2,532,722

GARAGE DOOR AND A REMOTE CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Oct. 22, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l JOHN C. KAYTOR INVENTOR.

A TTOPNEY Dec. 5, 1950 J; c. KAYTOR 2,532,722

GARAGE DOOR AND A REMOTE CONTROL THEREFOR Filed 001;. 22, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i JOHN 0. m4 YTOR 1N VEN T OR.

A T TORNE Y Dec. 5, 1950 J. c. KAYTOR 2,532,722

GARAGE DOOR AND A REMOTE CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Oct. 22, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 JOHN c. KA YTOR INVENTOR.

A T TORNEY Patented Dec. 5, 1950 GARAGE DOOR AND A REMOTE CONTROL THEREFOR John C. Kaytor, Lynwood, Calif.

Application October 22, 1945, Serial No. 623,785

4 Claims.

This invention relates to door operating mechanism and particularly pertains to a garage door and a remote control therefor.

Garages are constructed with doors which swing horizontally, lift and shift vertically, and also slide horizontally. When driving an automobile into a garage it is necessary for someone to open the door, and after driving out of the garage it is necessary for the door to be closed. It is desirable, therefore, to provide means by which garage doors may be opened and closed automatically as an automobile reaches a specified point of operation, and it is also desirable to render such a device ineffective in the event the opening of the doors is not required. It is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a door operating mechanism associated with the doors of a garage or the like, and to provide an optionally controlled actuating means in the automobile whereby the door operatin mechanism will be set into motion when the automobile approaches the garage and reaches a predetermined point.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a power driven mechanism which may be applied to horizontally swinging, horizontally sliding, and vertically moving doors, the power driven mechanism having electric controls associated therewith to initiate and interrupt the driving operation, said controls being connected :1

with an aerial disposed at a point in the path of travel of an approaching automobile, and to be encountered by the radio aerial on the automobile, the radio aerial being associated with a source of electric energy Which will pass from the radio aerial to the garage aerial when the two aerials are in electrical contact.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective showing the garage door operating unit with which the present invention is concerned.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation showing the operating unit.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the door hinge structure.

Fig. 4 is a view in plan showing the operating structure and further indicates the rack and pinion arrangement and the trip mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram showing the arrangement of the relays and the various motor controls.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the safety switch in a closed position and the trip in the position it assumes when the door is closed.

Fig. '7 is a view showing the position of the combination forward and reverse switch and the garage light switch when the trip member is in the position shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the relay limit control switch when the trip mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view showing the safety switch with the trip in the position it occupies when the door is open.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentar view showing the combination forward and reverse switch and the garage light switch with the trip in the position shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view showing the relay limit control switch in the position it occupies when the trip is in the position as shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of the safety switch when the switch is open and the trip cam has turned beyond its normal stationary position in one direction.

Fig. 13 is a view showing the relay limit control switch in the position occupied when the trip cam moves momentarily from one position to the other.

Fig. 14 is a View similar to Fig. 12 showing the trip cam when rotated to the opposite extreme position from that shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a view in perspective showing the application of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, It indicates a garage having a doorway I I within which a garage door i2 is mounted. The present invention is concerned with means for moving the garage door to and from its closed position. The driving mechanism will operate satisfactorily upon doors which slide, doors which swing on vertical hinges at the edge of the doorway,. and doors which are mounted upon side hangers and can swing upwardly and into the garage over the car. The invention is described by way of example when used with this last named type of door, it being understood that the invention is not limited to that use. Disposed in advance of the garage and supported across the driveway l3 at a suitable height is a fixed antenna or contact wire M which connects with a lead wire [5 extending to the garage. The height of the contact Wire is such as to insure that an automobile l6 may pass beneath the Wire as it approaches the garage and to insure also that the aerial H carried by the automobile will strike the wire l4 and flex under it as the car proceeds into the garage. The automobile is equipped with an actuating unit mounted upon the dashboard of the automobile and which may be connected with the aerial l 1'. This unit is generally indicated on the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 5 and in the portion enclosed by the dotted lines A. The unit end of the spark coil and makes contact between a battery feed wire 28 and the primary winding 24. The battery feed wire 28 connects with av source of electrical supply 253. The opposite side of the source of electrical supply 29-. is connected with a. ground wire 36. Thus, when the switch. 2'! is closed and the switch: i8 is set to make contact betweenthe contact, member 2l and the aerial I? the primary and secondary windings of the spark coil will be in series with the electrical supply. 29 and a circuit will be completed from the aerial i! to the antenna M and then through the. conductor It to a sensitive relay structure which is mounted within the garage and at a point where it will not be influenced b the vibration incident to. the opening and closing of the garage. This sensitive relay unit connects with a power relay unit; 3| in a manner to be hereinafter described. The power relay unit includes all, of the electrical equipment shownin Fig. save the portions of the diagram enclosed in the fields A and B indicated by dotted lines. The conductor it leads to a binding post 32 which in turn connects to a magnet winding 33 of the sensitive relay unit, The other end of this winding connects to a binding post 3 3 which in turn is attached to a ground wire 35. The coil- 33 is wrapped around the usual magnet core 36. It is intended to actuate an armature 31 which is pivoted at 38 and also serves as aswitch blade to engage a contact 33 to which a conductor 4fl-is attached. A binding post 4| receives the opposite endof the conductor'diiand leads to a low voltage distributing wire 42. This leads to a low voltage feed wire 43. The voltage in this particular line is preferably in the range of to volts and thecurrent may be direct or alternating. The feed wire 43 leads to the pivot of a relay switch blade 44. This blade swings to make contact with a conductor 45 which is connected to a power supply wire 45 leading to a power relay unit 41. The coil 48 of this unit is connected to. a conductor 49 leading to blade 5110f a relay control limit switch. The opposite blade of this switch, as indicated at 55, connects with a conductor 52 which is the-low voltage feed wire complementary to the feed wire 43. Associated with the relay control limit switch is a safet cut-ofi switch comprising blades 53 and 54. The. blade 53' of the cut-01f switch is connected with a conductor 55. This leads to the pivot 56 of a relay switch blade 51. A link 58 tiesthe relay switch blades M and 51 together so that they will move in unison under the influence of the power relay 4'! to a closed position. A suitable spring 59 acts to move these switch blades to an open position when the relay 4'7 is not energized. The relay switch blade 51 moves to contact with a conductor 58, leading to abinding post Bl. A conductor 62 is attached to this binding post and leads to a motor feed wire Hi. This connects to one side of a driving motor 64 by which the garage door is opened. The other side of the motor is fitted with a conductor 85 which follows a course to be hereinafter described.

Conductors 63 and 65 supply current to drive the motor in a reverse direction. The switch blade 54 of the safety cut-ofi switch is connected with a conductor 66 leading to the main electric power feed line 61. This line carries the usual domestic current, such for example as 110 volts. A complementary power feed line 68 connects to a conductor 69 leading to the motor 64 and delivers current to drive the motor in its normal direction of rotation. The opposite side of the motor isfitted; with the conductor 18 which completes the normal driving circuit through the motor. This current is handled in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

Connected to. the binding post 56 of the relay switch blade 5'1 is a conductor II. This conductor leads to blade 12 of a light switch, the opposite blade 13 connecting with a conductor M attached to one pole of a light socket 15. 'This is mounted within the garage so that when the. door is opened the light is turned on. The opposite pole of'theli'ght socket 15 is provided with: a conductor- 16 which is attachedto the feed wire 69. The circuitsforestablishing and interruptingflow of current to the motor for drivingit in. a for ward or reverse direction are controlled mechanically-by a trip shaft '11-- whichis rotatably mounted in the housing of the relay unit '31; This shaft extends vertically and carries a. pair of trip fingersi8 and T9, which are above the. housing.

The shaft 717 is formed with three cam sections of different shape, as shown for example in Figs. 6:, 7 and 8 of-the drawing The cam section indicated in Fig. 6*has opposite parallel flat faces 8% and 8]- wh-ich are out upon opposite sides of the cylindrical section of the shaft. I-his camsection is associated with the safety switch, the blades of which havebeen indicated at 53 and 541 The cam section shown in Fig '7- comprisesa flat face 82 formed on one side of the cylindrical portion of the shaft 17 and operates the forward and reverse motor circuits, which will be hereinafter described. The cam section shown: in Fig. 8 is in the form of a recess 83* extending longitudinally-ofj the shaft Hz. This momentariiy'registers with an arcuate end- 84,- of an actuating-fingerdfi mounted parallel to the fingers 50; and 5|. The safety switch. shown in Figs. 6,. 132- and 14 is provided with an actuating finger 36 which engages the cam surfaces and operates the switch blades 53 and 54'. The combination forward reverse switch and garage light switch, as shown in Figs. 7 and I0, is provided with an operating finger 8'1 and oscillating operating fingers 8 EgandtS; These three fingers are spaced from each other by insulating blocks The oscillating finger 88 moves between pairs of switch. blades 9+ and 5-2, andthe oscillating finger 39 moves between pairs of switch blades Q3 and 94. Blade 12 of; the light switch is also associatedwith theb lades V833 and 89 and separated therefrom by an insulating block 90 so that, the three blades 813, 9B and 72' will move in unison when the arcuate portion 82. of the cam section shown in Figs. '7 and 1 0 is in contact with the operating finger 81. By reference to Fig 7 of. the drawing it will be seen that when the pressure of'the face 82* is relieved from pressure against the finger 8T theoscillating blade 88 will be in a position to make electric contact with the member 9|, and the oscillating blade '89 will be in position to make electric contact with the blade 93; At this time the switch blade 12 will be out of electric contact with the blade 13,.

The relay unit 3 l' is provided to initiate driving operation-- of the motor 64. The motor 6k is carthe form of the invention here described in which the door I2 is intended to slide upwardly and into the ceiling of the garage a horizontally moving operating rail 96 is provided. This rail is guided by suitable supports not shown in the drawing and slides horizontally across the upper face of the relay unit 3I. In its upper face a gear rack 91 is mounted. This rack is engaged by a pinion 98 carried upon a drive shaft 99. The drive shaft is supported in suitable bearings I00. A pulley IOI is mounted upon the opposite end of the shaft 99 and is driven by a belt I02. This belt passes around a pulley I03 mounted upon a jack'shaft I04. The jack shaft is carried upon the frame member 95 within bearings I05. A pulley I06 is mounted upon the jack shaft and receives a belt I01. This belt is led around a drive pulley I08 mounted upon the armature shaft I09 of the motor 64.

The door I2 is attached to the operating rail 96 by a hinge H0. The pintle III of the hinge is associated with mechanism not shown in the drawing by which it may be withdrawn in case of emergency when the mechanism becomes inoperative.

The trip shaft 11, as previously explained, carries trip fingers I8 and I9. These fingers are substantially at right angles to each other and are at different levels upon the shaft. The shaft, as has been previously explained, is also formed with the three cam sections, shown for example in Figs. 6, '7 and 8. It is intended that when the shaft 11 is in one position and the relay is aperated the operating bar 95 will move horizontally to its extreme position, and that as it moves the shaft TI will be rotated to prepare the various switches for a reverse operation. This requires trip means, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. Here it will be seen that two trips are provided, one generally indicated at H2, and the other at H3. The trip II2 comprises an angle-shaped member having end portions H4 and H5 formed with aligned openings to receive a mounting bar H0. The member may thus slide longitudinally of the bar and will be held frictionally in a desired position. The horizontal leg of the angle forming the member carries a trip cam II'I formed with an inclined end face I I8 which will encounter trip finger I9 when the operating rail 96 moves in the direction of the arrow a as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. The trip H3 is disposed adjacent to the end of the operating rail 96 farthest from the hinge I I0.

This trip is identical with the one previously described except that it is reversed in position upon a rod H9 and carries a trip cam I20 formed with an inclined face I2I. This cam will engage the trip finger IB and rotate the operating shaft 11 of the relay unit 3I as it moves in a direction counter to. that indicated by the arrow a. It will be understood that the cams H8 and I20 are spaced apart a distance represented by the normal stroke of the operating bar 96. However, in the event that the operating shaft 11 did not properly interrupt the flow of current to the motor in the driving stroke in either direction of the bar 96, limit means are provided which comprise a trip pin I22 and a trip pin I23. These project from the side of the operating rail 96 at the levels of the cams I I8 and I20, respectively, and will thus positively engage the fingers I8 and I9 to interrupt the flow of current completely by a separate switch if the current has 6 not been properly discontinued by the action of the cams H8 and I20.

In the event it is desired to operate the garage doors without the aid of the unit shown in the dotted line field A of Fig. 5 a pair of switches I24 and I25 are provided. The switch I24 may be located within an adjoining dwelling and is provided with a conductor I26 leading to the wire and a conductor I21 leading to the Wire 42. The switch I25 may be located at the garage and is provided with a conductor I28 connected to the wire 46 and a conductor I29 connected to the wire 42.

In operation of the present invention it will be assumed that the structure is made and assembled as shown in the drawings, and that the garage door I2 is closed. At this time the operating bar 96 will be in its extreme position to the right when Figs. 1 and i are considered. It will be understood that Figs. 1 and 4 indicate the operating bar and the door in their open positions. When the door is closed the safety switch, comprising blades 53 and 5 5, is in the position indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawing. The combination forward-reverse switch and garage light switch are in the positions indicated Fig. 7 of the drawing with the blades 89 and 93 in register, and with the blades 08 and iii in register. At this time the light switch blades l2 and I3 are not in contact. When the door is closed the relay limit control switch, comprising blades and SI, is in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 8. The approaching automobile l8 normally has the switch I8 making contact with the member I9 and the radio lead wire 29. This gives a normal electrical connection to the radio aerial 11. As the car approaches the garage the switch I8 is turned to establish a connection between the aerial I1 and the contact 2!. It is to be understood that the circuit set up in the spark coil comprising windings 23 and 24 will cause the automobile to which the circuit is grounded to act as a condenser so that a complete induction circuit will be made through the automobile, the aerial and antenna and the sensitive relay coil 33 to the ground. When a circuit is set up through the induction coil unit, comprising windings 23 and 24, this unit will be energized from the battery 29 through conductor 28 as the circuit is completed through ground wires 25 and 26. This causes a high voltage induced current to be delivered to the aerial I'i. When the aerial encounters the antenna I4, which is stretched across and above the driveway, this induced current passes to the antenna Id and then through the lead wire I5 to the relay winding 33, which is mounted separately within the garage. The current will there energize the relay magnet comprising winding 33 and core 36 and complete a circuit to ground through the conductor 35. When the coil 33 is energized it will draw the switch blade 31 into contact with the switch member 39. Thus, a low voltage circuit will be established from the low voltage feed line 43 to conductor 42, to the contact 39, and thence through the switch blade 31, through conductor 48, to the winding 4? of the power relay, after which the circuit is completed through conductor 4.9 to blade 59 of the relay limit control switch, and then through blade 5| of this switch to the low voltage power line 52. It is understood that the blades 50 and PH are held in electrical contact at this time, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing. When the power relay 4'! is energized switch blades 51 and 44 will be drawn downwardly to contact-- switch elements as and. 45', respectively. This will cause motor circuits to be established as follows, since. at this: particular; time the safety switch and the combination. forward-re verse. switch arezi-n the positions. shown. in Figs. 6: and. 7.. Current will. flow from the feed line iii-'toconductor G: connectedwith blade 5d at the safety-switch; This-blade isincontactwith blade 5.3of the safety switchwhich is connectedby. con:- ductor 5,5; to the post: 5% carrying the switch bladev 5.7:. This switch blade has been actuated by. the power relay 47' and; thus a circuit. is: es;- tablished through conductor 62 to themotor lead wire it; This is attached to the forward driving windings of the motor 64.. A circuit is then. completed through conductor as to the feed wire 68 for driving the motor.. At the same time a circuit will be established from. the wire '59 to blade 89 of the forward and' reverse switch, and since that switch blade is in contact with blade 93 a circuit will be completed through conductor 63 to one side of the reverse winding of the motor 64. The opposite side of this winding is connected to conductor 55, which in turn connects with conductor 85 attached to the switch blade e1; This blade is in contact withthe blade 88 leading to the wire 59 andthe returnfeed wire 58. When this takes place the motor ca will. be energized to raise the door 42 by driving the operating bar 96 along its guides as the gear 98 engages the rack e1. It should also be pointedout that at this time the trip fingers i8 and '59 are in the dotted line positions shown in Figs. 6 to. 8', inclusive, and that. the finger i3 is inthe plane. of the tripcam H 8. Thus, as the operatinglbar lid-movestobring the trip cam liBinto engagement withthe finger is the shaft T]- Will be rotated and will dispose the various switch elements: in the positions shown in Figs. 9, andll. Here it will be seen that the positions of the contacts in the safety switch, as shown in. Fig. 9, remain closed, that the positions of theswitch bladesinthe combination forward and:r.everse switch are reversed; and that the switch blades '12 and 1 3 controlling the garage lights are moved intocontact. It will also be noted that during the interval the shaft Tl. rotates from the position representedinF-igs. 5, 6; and 7 to the position represented in Figs. 9, ldand 11. the relay'limit. control switch, which includes the groove 83 to receive the arcuate end 84. of an operating blade 85, as shown inFig. 13, will momentarily open. 'This will-break: thecircuit through the relay i3, and since the circuit through the relay 83 was only energized during the period when the aerial ii contacted and passed. beneath the antenna is all otthe circuits will be broken save the light circuit through the socket When it is desired to close the door as the car is backed out-of the garage the switch [8 may be set as previously described; so that a high voltage induced current will be delivered to the antenna i4 when it encounters the aerial ll. This will again energize the-relay winding 33; setting up a low voltage circuit tothe power relay 4?; The switch blades 4d and 57 will then be drawn into engagement with their contacts 45 and (50, respectively. A circuit wiil then be completed from the high voltagerfeed Wire t? to conductor 66, and then through blades 55 and 53: of the safety cutcfij switch to the, conductor 55; after which cur.- rent will flow through the switchblade 57 to the contact 60, and thencethrough conductor ill to the conductor 10. The current will. then flow through conductor 10 tonne side of the forward winding: of the motor 6.4 and will be completed through. conductor 69; to, the opposite feed. line: 6.8.- At. the. same. time current from the. COIldllCIOh'lUI' will: flow: through switch; blade; 89 to; the switch blade. 94: and thence; alongv conductor 65:- to one side of the reverse winding in motor 64. The opposite. side; of; the. reverse. winding. is connected to conductor 63,. which leads to switch blade 62. The. circuitthen continues. through switch; blade 8.8. to conductor 6?. and to the opposite feed wire 658;. When-.thistakes place. a reverse operation of the motor will be established: to shift the, operating bar 96. andto close the door. As'thedoor reaches its: closed position the trip. cam; I25 will encounter the; finger 79: on the cam shaft; Tl to restore; the. cams and switches to the positions showIrinFigsB, T and 8 preparatory to a new operating position. In the event the. engagement of the tripsca-ms H6 and I20. with theafingers. 7'8 and 19 does not completely interrupt-the circuits further travel of the operating bar 95 will cause the-members I22 and- 123.1 0 encounter thefinger i8.- and i3. andturn the cam shaft ii to either of the two extreme positions shown in Figs. I2" and 1,4 where-the current through the switch blades 53 and 5% will be completely interrupted;

In the event it. isdesired to. operate the door when; an: automobile is not present: switches:- I24 or flax-may. be closed manually. It should also be pointed out that in the; event. the; power operating mechanism; becomes inoperative.- the operating bar; 96: may be detached from. th door,- I2 by withdrawing-the;hingepintle ELM from theoutside...

It will thusv bev seen that the garage-door: operating; mechanism here disclosedis simple in constnuction, it may be easily adaptedto garage doors; of any type so that the doors will auto-.- matically open and close. whenv an automobile is in proximity'to them,v and sdthat the doors may be automatically opened: andv closed by a. manual controliwhen desired.

While: I haveshownthe preferred form of my invention. asnow known to-rne, it will be understoodthat variouschanges may be made incoznbination, construction and. arrangement of parts by:those skilled inxthe art, without departingfrom the spiritof the invention as claimed.

Having: thus descri ed my invention; what I claim and'd'esireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1*.Incombination, a motor, a power relay switch, anelectric circuit including the driving motor, the power relay switch and a source of electric energy, a normally openelectric control circuit for the power relay including a source of electric energy, a control relay for closing said control circuit, a partial electric operating circuitfor. said control relay including a fixed'contact member, and a mobile source of electric en'ergyincluding a: member to bemoved: into engagement with said fixed contact whereby a' circult to the control-relay will be completed; to actuate the same.

2. Incombination, adr-iving motor, asourceof electric energy, and a power relay, an antenna connected with said relay and disposed in the path of a mobileelectric circuit including an aerial adapted to contact the antenna: whereby the: power relay will be energized tov close the motor. circuit,

3. The structure of claim 2 including means acting automatically to interrupt said; circuit when the, motor has completedapredetermined periodof; energization.

4. in combination, an electric circuit including REFERENCES CITED a of electnc i w F and a relay The following references are of record in the switch, a separate circuit including a source of file of this patent: electric energy, the magnet of the relay switch and a control relay switch, a partially prepared 5 UNITED TE TENT circuit including the magnet of the control relay switch, a relatively fixed contact member atg i M gg tached to said partial circuit, and a mobile elec- 48136 M g 2 1932 tric unit adapted to engage said contact member l935017 er i 1933 and impart an induced current into said partially l0 2003534 iz 3 1935 prepared c1rcu1t whereby the magnet of the con- 2186311 Weathers Jan 1940 trol relay will be energized.

JOHN KAYTOR 2,289,417 Fisher July 4, 1942 

